Writing Clear, Concise, Sentences
writing.wisc.edu
Writing Clear, Concise, Sentences
1–10 of 75 posts
Re: Writing Clear, Concise, Sentences
#2I'm positive the second comma shouldn't be there. (I wouldn't normally comment on commas, but it seems on-topic...)
Re: Writing Clear, Concise, Sentences
#3A lot of this information is presented as a consistent methodology when in fact it is very subjective. For example, one of the suggestions is that "you should try to avoid using inflated diction if a simpler phrase works equally well." Unfortunately, it is not clear when a simpler phrase works equally well. I may want to 'use' a certain phrasing in one scenario, but feel it is more appropriate to 'utilize' another phrasing in a different scenario. There is no simple rule that can be applied to determine whether one is more appropriate than the other.
Re: Writing Clear, Concise, Sentences
#4A lot of this information is presented as a consistent methodology when in fact it is very subjective. For example, one of the suggestions is that "you should try to avoid using inflated diction if a simpler phrase works equally well." Unfortunately, it is not clear when a simpler phrase works equally well. I may want to 'use' a certain phrasing in one scenario, but feel it is more appropriate to 'utilize' another ph…
Interesting how many of the suggestions for "improvement" sound very dry and artificial. I would rather use the "bad" language in some of these examples.
Re: Writing Clear, Concise, Sentences
#5A lot of this information is presented as a consistent methodology when in fact it is very subjective. For example, one of the suggestions is that "you should try to avoid using inflated diction if a simpler phrase works equally well." Unfortunately, it is not clear when a simpler phrase works equally well. I may want to 'use' a certain phrasing in one scenario, but feel it is more appropriate to 'utilize' another ph…
Are you arguing that there is no truly objective test for good writing? If so, I agree.
Re: Writing Clear, Concise, Sentences
#6I'm positive the second comma shouldn't be there. (I wouldn't normally comment on commas, but it seems on-topic...)
Yep. They managed to refute their own title in four words, I am impressed.
Re: Writing Clear, Concise, Sentences
#7Some of the comments I've read seem to misunderstand the purpose of this page. This isn't the objectively best writing style, this is a concise writing style. No, it might not be the most pleasant to read, because extremely to-the-point short sentences sound blunt. The guidelines provided for writing short and concise sentences are very useful, if that's the style you are aiming for.
Re: Writing Clear, Concise, Sentences
#8Some of the comments I've read seem to misunderstand the purpose of this page. This isn't the objectively best writing style, this is a concise writing style. No, it might not be the most pleasant to read, because extremely to-the-point short sentences sound blunt. The guidelines provided for writing short and concise sentences are very useful, if that's the style you are aiming for.
From the site: Follow the principles below to write sentences that are clear, to the point, and easier to read.
I think they're claiming a lot more than "here's how to write concise sentences, if that's the style you're aiming for."
Note also that this section ("Clear, Concise, Sentences" [sic]) falls under the heading "Improving Your Writing Style."
Re: Writing Clear, Concise, Sentences
#9Some of the comments I've read seem to misunderstand the purpose of this page. This isn't the objectively best writing style, this is a concise writing style. No, it might not be the most pleasant to read, because extremely to-the-point short sentences sound blunt. The guidelines provided for writing short and concise sentences are very useful, if that's the style you are aiming for.
These are great guidelines. If you don't at least understand them, your style probably sucks. And I say that objectively.
Good writing skills are so important today when you consider that much of the writing people typically do is in an email or a powerpoint, not a romantic novel.
Re: Writing Clear, Concise, Sentences
#10I'm positive the second comma shouldn't be there. (I wouldn't normally comment on commas, but it seems on-topic...)
It's not on every page. It is ok in the title of this one
http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/CCS_wordyphrases.html
for example